Chrysanthemum plant named `Fire Time`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant producing golden yellow flowers with an orange red center.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a new and distinct variety ofChrysanthemum botanically classified as Dendranthema grandiflora. Thevarietal denomination of the new chrysanthemum is `Fire Time.`

The female and male parents of the new variety are undistributed,unpatented seedlings identified as P23-21 and P88- 19, respectivelly.The new variety has been asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings inVentura County, Calif. and the distinguishing characteristics areretained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

`Fire Time` is a pot forcing chrysanthemum plant variety that can begrown as a disbud or spray type producing golden yellow flowers with anorange red center, and capable of being grown commercially in agreenhouse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new varietywith colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of thistype. One illustration shows `Fire Time` grown as a pinched pot mum andthe other illustration is a close-up of the flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following description of the new variety is of specimens grown in agreenhouse in Ventura County, Calif. in the month of October. `FireTime` has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environmentsuch as temperature, light intensity, day length and culturalconditions. Color values are taken from The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperatureconditions averaging about 65° F. at night and about 75°-85° F. duringthe day under light conditions of about 5,000-6,000 foot candles. Theplants respond well to use of growth retardant, such as one B9 treatmentat about 2000 ppm. To produce a commercial product the plants may bepinched once and disbudded. It has been observed that the shelf life of`Fire Time` is about 18 days with the response time of about 8 weeks.

Plant

Habit: Upright. Height: About 29.5 cm after one application of growthregulator as described.

Branching characteristics: Average to good.

Number of breaks from pinch: About 3 per.

Typical container size to be grown in: 4", 6", 8", 10".

Length of lateral branches:

Average.--About 24.4 cm.

Stem color: Near 139D.

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: Alternate.

Number of leaves per lateral branch:

Average number leaves per lateral branch.--About 15 fully mature leaves,very leafy.

(1) Size.--Length -- Average about 8.75 cm; Width -- Average about 5.1cm.

(2) Shape.--Ovate.

(3) Attachment.--Petioled.

(4) Apex.--Acute.

(5) Base.--Truncate.

    ______________________________________    (6)    Color:     Mature        Young           Top:       Near 137A     Near 137B           Bottom:    Near 138B     Near 138B    ______________________________________

Margin: Lobed, denate.

Aspect: Generally flat, some slight undulation.

Surface characteristics:

Top.--Puberulent.

Bottom.--Puberulent. Venation: Palmately net; main veins prominent onunderside of leaf; main vein coloration near 143D, veinlet colorationnear 137D.

Petiole:

(1) Length.--About 2 cm.

(2) Color.--Near 144D.

Stipule: Very ocassionally 1 present, very small, about 0.2 cm across.

Flower

Inflorescence form: Cyme.

Flower form: Decorative.

Flower shape: Circular.

Flower color (general): Golden yellow with an orange red center near 34Acaused by darker immature ray florets.

Blooms: Average about 5blooms per branch.

(1) Diameter.--Average about 8 cm.

(2) Depth.--Average about 5 cm.

(3) Longevity on plant.--About 18 day shelf life.

Sepal:

(1) Number. --About 30.

(2) Color.--Near 143C.

(3) General appearance.--Not very membraneous, thick and long on fullyopened flowers.

Peduncle:

(1) Length.--Average about 5 cm.

(2) Habit.--Upright.

(3) Surface.--Tomentose.

(4) Color.--Near 144B.

(5) Strength.--Very stiff.

Bud:

(1) Shape.--Flattened sphere.

(2) Diameter.--Avg. about 0.9 cm.

(3) Color.--Near 143 C.

(4) Height.--About 0.5 cm.

Ray florets:

(1) Number per flower.--Average about 250.

(2) Fused.--No.

(3) Texture.--Smooth, matte.

(4) Shape.--Oblanceolate.

(5) Apex.--Obtuse with one notch.

(6) Base.--Tapered.

(7) Margin.--Entire.

(8) Aspect.--Strongly recurved, revolute at base.

(9) Length.--Avg. About 2.5 cm.

(10) Avg. --About 0.9 cm.

Color--top side.--Immature: Near 9A, some red streaks and speckles, near42A. Mature: Near 7A. Fading: Near 8A.

Color--under side.--Immature: Near 12B, many red speckles. Mature: Near9C. Fading: Near 8C.

Disc florets:

(1) Number per flower.--About 15.

(2) Texture.--Shiny, smooth.

(3) Shape.--Cylindric.

(4) Margin.--Entire.

(5) Length.--About 0.5 cm.

(6) Width.--About 0.1 cm.

(7) Fragrance.--Very light, musky.

Color:

Immature.--Near 59C.

Mature.--Near 59D.

Fading.--Near 65A.

Description of flower as it ages: Dark center disappears, flower becomesalmost a sphere. Rayfloret tips brown and curl under.

Reproductive organs

Ray florets:

Pistillate.--(1) Pistil number: 1 per floret. (2) Ovary shape: Veryflattened, wide sphere. (3) Stigma shape: Slightly curved out, veryshort. (4) Stigma color: Near 12A. (5) Style length: Average about 1 cm.(6) Style color: Near 154D .

Disc florets: Staminate and pistillate.

Pistillate:

(1) Pistil number.--1 per floret.

(2) Stigma Shape.--linear, near 7A.

(3) Style Length.--About 0.3 cm, clear.

Staminate:

(1) Stamen number.--About 6.

(2) Anther length.--About 0.2 cm.

(3) Anther shape.--linear, near 13A.

(4) Pollen color.--Near 13A.

(5) Pollen quantity.--Abundant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plantsubstantially as herein shown and described.